The Process:
We’ve all sat down in front of a computer, prepared to get started on something. The ideas haven’t flowed lately, but that’s okay.
You tell yourself, “I’m gonna get this started and finish it tonight!”
Flash-forward, whatever it is you are doing is not even 15% done. All that to say, staying up to date with our creativity and academics can be very complicated.
There is no set pathway for getting through a creative block. You’ll find that you have your own strategies in your creative development.
In the meantime, here are some strategies in no particular order.
Understanding the Block:
Creative blocks come from fear, anxiety, and stress. These factors take over the brain and make these tasks seem impossible.
The fear of failing or not being good enough strikes and frustration follows.
Creativity is an anxious process. That is deeper than the fear and it can be all consuming. The anxiety is believed to be the most difficult of these to overcome.
It can be unforgiving to create something, particularly when you only get one chance to complete it correctly.
Stress affects everyone, and it manifests in different ways.
Creating is difficult when having to split your time between your creativity and your responsibility.
The responsibilities or the things people say should be prioritized over creativity can be hard to do when they are stopping us from pursuing what we want to do.
The interesting part of stress is sometimes the final creation of something and the subsequent creation can bring forth more stress. That is not even mentioning how difficult in can be mentally when creating something for a professional or monetary purpose.
Still, managing the block is possible, no matter which of these reasons it might be.
Take a Break:
First up, taking a break is the most common advice given during a creative block. For most, this is quite difficult to follow as far as advice goes.
Taking a break is meant to be fun! It can help get creativity flowing again, or at the very least help with rest.
Finding inspiration for creative acts is not easy. Most of the time, it is as easy as stepping outside and feeling the breeze.
A break can also look like creating something completely different than what gets us stuck. Seeing different creative ideas come out can feel liberating!
Change in Environment:
Next, coffeeshops, parks, or a different room in the place you live.
A change in environment does wonders for creativity. The place where you feel the most creative will likely be your room or somewhere private in general.
Changing your environment will help you get in touch with different parts of your creativity. The passage of people in public areas or scents from a place you enjoy going to are perfect.
Writers seem to dominate coffee shops while artists dominate their studios. However, wouldn’t it be interesting to see the two switch? There is art in people watching, just like how there is story and structure in a place of art and creation.
Understanding creativity is all about the way we interact with it, what inspires it, and how.
Seeking Inspiration:
When seeking inspiration, it is important to remember that the first step looks different for everyone. Changing environments won’t always cut it, but it is a start.
With that in mind, taking a break will not always help either.
Inspiration can be about routine, it can factor into your daily life. You can use your schedule to your advantage.
If not, free journaling can help. Journaling is a way for all creatives to retreat and strategize.
Writing of beautiful landscapes, of historical events that inspire or showcase tragedy.
Candles are also a possibility that has not been examined. Different scents can bring forth different emotions, especially the scent notes.
Seeking inspiration isn’t a monolithic experience; that’s the whole point. If your creative process is unorthodox, then all the better!
A personal favorite of mine is entering a bookstore, not for the environment, but to take a look at some of my favorite writing styles and stories.
Processes like this serve as a reminder that creating something in itself is a process, and it can be lengthy, but it’ll definitely be rewarding.
Experiment with New Techniques:
Techniques grow and change, especially when you find yourself unable to use the ones that you have grown familiar with.
Changing them up every once in a while will increase your versatility, and if not, it will at least help you find the ones that don’t speak to you.
Searching for creators on the internet who are similar to yourself but different than any you may have used to learn your craft would be especially beneficial.
Getting too accustomed to a way of making something can be a big part of creator’s block.
So adjusting techniques and using different mediums will both give you a break and inspire you to go back to your normal way of doing things!
Collaborate with Others:
Collaboration can make creative processes super fun!
It is also a form that really combines the ones we’ve discussed so far. The collaborative aspect helps you take a break from the usual structures of your work.
Trading ideas with a like-minded creator can help, especially during creative blocks.
Interestingly, even discussing with someone who creates something completely different can be very beneficial.
Whether that happens to be a writer and a musician, a crocheter and a game designer. Differences in mediums coming together can have great effects on creativity.
Accountability is a definite result of this sort of collaboration. Holding oneself accountable when creating isn’t a bad thing.
That sort of accountability is super important. It means you have someone you trust to share the most vulnerable parts of your creativity with.
Support is likely the most important part of a collaborative space.
Holding you accountable does not mean that your fellow creator won’t be there to raise you up and let you know that you are not alone in your feelings.
With that being said, hopefully, some of these ideas stick with you all as you continue to create whatever masterpieces you’re working on!
